A contentious fifteen campsite ‘primitive’ caravan park development in Red Rock (Australia) has been recommended for approval, after an expressive council meeting last week.
The proposed campground attracted major public interest from the small community, with many of its residents expressing their views to the council, according to a report.
Dale Graham, a Red Rock resident, spoke against the development at the meeting saying that it is “extremely naive” to believe that allowing this small amount of progress will snowball.
“It always does,” he said. “There’s only one Red Rock left, it is the last one.”
Long-time Red Rock resident Jenny Freeman also implored the councilors to vote the motion down.
“This DA does nothing to enhance Red Rock,” she said.
She said the existing caravan park actively participated in providing community support, further saying that they already have a campground with a unique contribution to the natural area.
“This primitive campground has the potential to take funds away from the natural areas rather than contribute to them,” she said.
But development proponent Phil Clare said management at the existing caravan park was in favor of the development.
“He (the manager) believes the primitive camping at 471 Red Rock Road will be a good facility, especially as their park is usually full and has no vacancies, and would service the overflow of his guests,” he said.
Clare said even with the additional campground, it might not be enough to cater to all tourists hoping to stay in the village, emphasizing that it is only 15 sites.
The vote was passed with Mayor Paul Amos using the often-maligned casting vote, with Councilor Rodger Pryce’s absence meaning the initial vote was split four apiece.
The approval did come with a caveat. However, being that the campground will have a fifteen-site limit with no more than four campers per site.
It will have a maximum five-day stay, no campfires, and require vehicles to have their own internal toilet.
This article originally appeared on News of the Area.